Birch Run Terrain Park

We received 3 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 7 inches in the past 4 days! The conditions are wonderful and the trail count keeps climbing higher. There is more snow in the forecast starting on Wednesday with up to 12 inches of new snow possible by the weekend. This will really make the trail count climb. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We now have 63 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 35 trails will be groomed tonight, including Playground, Bootlegger, and Curley’s Cutback for a grand total of 135 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Tomorrow is the calm before the storm with partly sunny skies and temperatures between 24 and 35 degrees.

We received 3 inches of new snow today and 6 inches in the past 6 days. It was really snowing hard for a while this afternoon. The new snow is bounding well with the existing snow. This afternoon, Ski Patrol opened Lower Pipeline which also opened Upper Treasure Run. I was lucky enough to ski Upper Treasure Run and the new snow was fantastic. We have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 44 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails will be groomed tonight, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 139 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

Upper Treasure Run

Birch Run, Log Jam, Flowground, and Zone Terrain Parks are all open. We have many events this weekend like the Extreme Skiing Challenge this Saturday and Sunday.

I had a good time at Zone Terrain Park and Practice Slope this morning. The Sterling T-Bar was running today and the kids were just making laps. The T-Bar makes it easy to do another run in the course or work on a new trick in the terrain park. Many skiers and riders use the T-Bar to access Birch Run Terrain park also, but always watch for traffic when crossing other trails. I had a great time this afternoon catching up with good friends Armand, Lidia, and Tony. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 7 lifts operating. We have 44 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Lower FIS will be closed tomorrow for construction of the Flowground Terrain Park.

Lidia skiing by the ice flow on Thomke’s

34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 134 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Birch Run, Log Jam, and Zone Terrain Park are all open. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for light snow an inch of accumulation possible with a chance of mix precipitation and temperatures between 28 and 37 degrees.

I was at the base of the Mogul Mouse Magic Lift this afternoon when I noticed a father and son sitting in the snow. They were exchanging boots. The father Todd was taking snowboard boots off and putting ski boots on. I was curious, so I walked over and asked why the change? The son Miles usually snowboards and the dad Todd usually skis. They have the same boot size, so they decided to switch for a run. Miles told me that he did pretty well skiing, but his dad was ready to take the snowboard boots off and go back to skiing. Todd told me that he was not giving up on snowboarding, but next time he is going to start on Sir Henry’s Learning Hill. Miles and Todd told me that they have been coming to Smuggs for years and they really like it here! I think that it is great that they were willing to try another sport. I guess this gives new meaning to “You don’t know what it is like until you walk a mile in their boots or should I say ski or ride a run in their boots!”

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 37 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS, Bootlegger, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 138 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries early and temperatures between 25 and 38 degrees. Birch Run, Log Jam, and Zone Terrain Parks are all open.

I would like you to meet Connie Douthwaite. Connie is a member of the Snow Sport University here at Smugglers’ Notch. She is a ski instructor who works with 3 to 6 year old children. The neat thing is that 13 years ago Connie was a 6 year old child taking ski lessons here at Smugglers’ Notch. Connie told me that her instructor back then was Larry Arnold who still works here at Smugglers’ Notch as a ski instructor. It is wonderful to see someone who learned to ski here 13 years ago is now teaching the next generation!

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We now have 36 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Tonight we plan to resume snowmaking on Upper Rumrunner, Crossover, Treasure Run, Lower Exhibition, and the Practice Slope. All 36 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, that’s 145 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for light snow and sleet a dusting of accumulation with a chance of mix later in the day and temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees. Tomorrow we plan to have the Log Jam, Birch Run, and Zone Terrain Park all open.

Long Island Rick and I on the Village Lift. Photo credit Harley Johnson

I would like to you meet Long Island Rick. Rick and his family come to Smuggs every year. Rick follows Hugh’s Views a.k.a. Hugh’s Blog and photo of the day and makes wonderful comments on different posts. His comments are always positive and fun to read. I am going to share one of Rick’s posts to show you his love for winter, skiing, and all things Smuggs!

Rick said “So…I’m sitting at my daughter’s dance class and I hear a lovely lady say something about our weather on Long Island…”Well, it’s supposed to rain today and ALL of tomorrow. I’ll take rain and warm over snow and cold though.”(DIRTY LOOK) Dramatic Pause…Inside my head I said….”WHAT!!!! Are you kidding!” Who plays outside in winter rain? YUK! True lovers of winter love to play in the SNOW!” Right? And race on Thursday for cookies and RING COWBELLS and sometimes dress in crazy outfits like tutus on Tuesdays and visit the “Winters” in a teepee and Sing with a Friendly Pirate whenever they see him and hang out with Snow Reporter! So…I told her about Smuggs!

Cowbell is packed! Cheers!”

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 74 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 33 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS, Thomke’s Express, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 137 acres of freshly groomed terrain. The Log Jam, Birch Run, and Zone Terrain Park are all open. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for occasional rain and drizzle with temperatures between 46 and 54 degrees. Wear something waterproof and enjoy the soft conditions!

Today started off cloudy with a few flurries. The skies then cleared out and we ended up with a gorgeous afternoon. I wanted to take advantage of the clear skies so I took some cruiser runs. One of my favorite scenic runs is Drifter. I love the views looking at Sterling and Mount Mansfield. I love how the view changes as you work your way down the mountain. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We now have 43 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Our groomers will be busy tonight hitting all 43 trails for a grand total of 155 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tomorrow we plan to have Birch Run Terrain Park, Log Jam Terrain Park, and Zone Terrain Park all open.

Fantastic views from Upper Drifter

Tomorrow’s forecast is mostly sunny skies with a high of 24 degrees. It is going to be another great day to be out on the mountain!

We now have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. We received 6 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 18 inches in the past 5 days. The forecast for Wednesday and Wednesday night is snow with up to 8 inches of accumulation possible. The conditions are already amazing and with another 8 inches on top of what we already have the conditions will be just fantastic! Our groomers will be busy tonight with 40 trails, including Upper Drifter, Smugglers’ Alley, and Evaporator being groomed for a grand total of 149 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Our snowmakers will also be busy making snow on Lower Exhibition and Lower Rumrunner. Snowmaking will be shut down early in the morning so that these trails can be groomed and open for tomorrow.

Winter Storm Watch

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and a high of 22 degrees. Zone, Knight’s Revenge, Birch Run, and Log Jam Terrain Parks are all open.

Today was pretty amazing with fantastic conditions and it snowed all day. We received 3 inches of new snow today and 12 inches in the past 4 days. The forecast is calling for another 2 to 4 inches of accumulation tonight. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for flurries early then partly sunny skies with a high of 22 degrees. We are also expecting more snow on Wednesday and Wednesday night.

31 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper Chilcoot, Smugglers’ Alley, and Timberrr for a grand total of 130 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Zone, Knight’s Revenge, Birch Run, and Log Jam Terrain Parks are all open.

34 trails have been groomed for today, including Upper FIS, Smugglers’ Alley, and Snow Snake for a grand total of 137 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating. We have 42 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Birch Run, Log Jam, and Zone Terrain Parks are all open. Today’s forecast is calling for flurries and a snow shower with an inch of accumulation possible with a high of 34 degrees.

Post navigation

Hugh Johnson

Hello skiers and riders! Thanks for checking out my blog. I've been skiing Smuggs since I was a young 'un, when my family moved to Vermont and made the resort a temporary home base. Full circle — now I'm introducing my own family to the mountain! Each day you'll find an entry and photo on mountain conditions and happenings, highlighting the great terrain we have spread over three mountains and the awesome adventures that skiers and riders of all ages can have out there! You'll also hear from Rockin' Ron Carter a couple days during the week. Maybe you'll spot him on his favorite run — Pirate's Plank on Sterling Mountain. We'll be out there on the slopes, and hope to see you — thanks for skiing and riding Smuggs!